The equality watchdog is set to make nearly 30 members of staff redundant, in what critics say is a blow to its efforts to enforce equality laws and hold the government to account over its record on disability discrimination. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) told staff on Tuesday this week (19 April) that […]
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Tory peer faces calls to quit as EHRC commissioner over support for WRAG cuts
Disabled campaigners are calling for the resignation of the equality watchdog’s disability commissioner, the disabled Tory peer Lord [Chris] Holmes, after he voted in favour of disability benefit cuts when they had been condemned by his own organisation. The letter to Lord Holmes at the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has been signed by […]
Crime stats ‘are wake-up call’ on link between ‘demonization’ and targeted violence
Disabled people in England and Wales are now almost three-and-half times more likely than non-disabled people to be a victim of serious violent crime, according to new research that has been described as “a wake-up call to politicians”. The new analysis of official crime figures by the charity Victim Support also shows people with a […]
Traumatised disabled teacher says council allowed bullying to continue
A maths teacher who was told by managers after she became disabled that if she had been a horse she would have been “taken out and shot” has spoken of a campaign of bullying and harassment that left her traumatised and suicidal. Catherine Scarlett spoke out this week after an Ofsted report found the comprehensive […]
Secret DWP proposal to scrap ESA ‘substantial risk’ rules ‘would breach right to life’
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has proposed scrapping two benefit regulations that offer vital protection to disabled people facing the controversial “fitness for work” test. In response to a freedom of information request, DWP has sent Disability News Service (DNS) a document titled Appeals Strategy – Post Election Planning, which was drawn […]
Revealed: DWP’s secret, ‘financially devastating’ proposals for benefits appeals
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has drawn up secret plans for sweeping reforms that would make it far harder for disabled people to appeal against having their benefit claims turned down. The heavily-redacted document was sent to Disability News Service (DNS) by DWP following a freedom of information request, but disabled activists from […]
Mental health goals may not be met, audit office warns
Waiting-time targets were scheduled to start in April, but NAO report says officials do not yet have a grip on how much the policy will cost. government pledge to bring mental health services up to the standards of those for physical ailments will struggle to be met, the government’s official spending watchdog has concluded. The […]
Abolish care fees to save families thousands, says Plaid
Scrapping care fees for the elderly and dementia sufferers would save families thousands of pounds each year, Plaid Cymru has said. The party wants to scrap both fees over a 10-year period, at a cost of £226m. Plaid health spokeswoman Elin Jones said those with relatives in residential care for dementia could save up to […]
Learning Disability Wales Training
Learning Disability Wales are pleased to announce the start of their new training programme which will run from May 2016 to October 2016. Their new training programme for summer 2016 is full of useful and informative courses such as Making Information Easy to Read and Understand Personal Relationships and Sexuality Introduction to Autism Spectrum […]
Delays to Disabled Facilities Grant process have major impact on people’s lives says Ombudsman
People with disabilities are being left for too long in unsuitable homes because of problems with councils’ Disabled Facilities Grants processes, the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) says. In a report issued this week, the LGO highlights some of the complaints it receives when the grants process goes wrong, and the significant impact this can have […]
